Lucy in the Swiss AlpsâI Love LucyÂ season 5, originally aired March 26, 1956

As part of the European Vacation story arc, Ricky and his band are booked to play in Lucerne, Switzerland.Â However, Ethel has sat on Fred’s glasses, and the near-sighted Fred has sent the band ahead to the wrong town.Â Despite Ricky’s anger, there’s nothing to do … except try and find a replacement band.Â A local group of Swiss musicians, more accustomed to playingÂ SchnitzelbankÂ make a brave attempt atÂ La CucarachaÂ â with a Swiss accent.Â Ricky refuses to hire hire the band, and the group decides to go mountain climbing, over Ricky’s protests.Â They climb to the top of a mountain, and enjoy a picnic lunch.Â On the way back down, they stop and rest in a small cabinâwhere Lucy’s sneeze and slamming of a door causes an avalanche.

While trapped in the cabin, fear of impending death results in several amusing âconfessionsâÂ â except from Ricky, who wisely says âI’m no fool.Â We may get out of this alive.â And, indeed, they do â rescued by the Swiss music band, who the relieved Ricky hires, despite their inability to play Latin music.Â The look on Ricky Ricardo’s face at the end of the episode is priceless, and a testament to Desi Arnaz’ comedic abilities.Â A very good episode ofÂ I Love Lucy, and highly recommended.

Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): We have to concentrate. We have to use our brains.Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Well, let’s see …Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): You stay out of this.

Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): We wouldn’t be trapped in here if Fred hadn’t sent the band to Lucarno.Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance): [to Fred] She’s right. This is all your fault! What a dumb-bunny trick!Fred Mertz (William Frawley): Well, I wouldn’t have sent the band to Lucarno if you hadn’t sat on my glasses.Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Well, actually the whole thing is Ricky’s fault.Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): MY FAULT?Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Yes! If you hadn’t left Cuba and come to America we wouldn’t gotten married, and we wouldn’t be in Switzerland in the first place!

Fred Mertz (William Frawley): Well how did they get out in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers?Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): They waited for the spring thaw.Fred Mertz (William Frawley): I wouldn’t mind that if we had five more brides.

Fred Mertz (William Frawley): Ricky I got a confession to make, I charge you ten dollars a month more than my other tenants.Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance): I got a confession too, Fred. Every month I give them back the ten dollars.

Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance): You remember when we were married I said I was 18. I was 19. [starts crying]Fred Mertz (William Frawley): I have something to tell you too. You were 24.